Monthly Archives: January 2011

So I am slowly chipping away writing Cursed. It’s a slow process, hindered, as usual, by life being me. But it is progressing, and I even think I know how I’m going to end this thing. That might not sound like the miracle it is, but considering I’m a pantser (I don’t plot,for those nonwriters out there), the fact that I was able to write a loose plot synopsis before I finished writing the book is pretty impressive. Well, it is to me, anyway.

So I decided that it was time to drum up interest by shopping it around as a proposal – three completed chapters and a synopsis. I have plenty of it written, being up to Chapter Ten, and I have a proven track record that I can finish a book and deliver on a deadline.

So I needed to do three things: polish the first three chapters (check); write a synopsis (check); and write a query letter (uhhh- no check…yet). But tonight I sat down and decided to write another scene. It was an innocent enough plan. I had the scene in my head, so I was just going to jot it down.

But then I got about halfway through the scene and realized something – I was writing in first person. The rest of what I’ve written is in third person. Easy enough to fix, right? Just go back and re-write the scene in third.

Yeah. Thing is, Evelyn, the main character, doesn’t want to be in third person anymore. She is talking to me in first person. She wants to tell her story in her voice, and boy has she found her voice.

If you listen to writers talk, you’ll hear us talk about how characters take on a life of their own and do what they want to do. Heck, I’ve mentioned it more than once here, and my kids still look at me like I’m nuts when I say stuff like that. Hey, I agree with you. It sounds crazy. How can a fictional character, who isn’t even real, have free will and do stuff to change a story?

Well, you’ve got me. All I know is Evelyn just threw a monkey wrench into my wonderful plan to shop around Cursed. Before I can write that query letter, I have to go back and re-write the whole darned book in first person. Inevitably, this will lead to more editing, which can only make the book better. But that’s not the point! I’m mad at Evelyn!

Remember back in October when I confessed to being a binge reader? I’m at it again. This binge was precipitated by two factors: my husband once again being in the hospital (he’s home and fine now, thanks) and the need to research something for the book I’m currently writing. Here’s the problem with that: I’d rather read than write.

Heck, I’d rather read than work, do chores, grocery shop… But then this darned day job thing gets in the way, and kids, and the aforementioned husband. He wants to talk to me! Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? I’m sitting there minding my own business, making it perfectly clear that I am otherwise occupied, and he starts talking! Really?

So eventually I am going to need to put down the book and pick up the… well, the book. Cursed isn’t going to write itself, after all.